Category: Personal Experience

Introduction

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is a developmental disorder that affects thousands of people every year. This disorder is characterized by the way a person socially interacts with others, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, repetitive behaviors, and obsessive interest. Each person affected by autism spectrum disorder has their own challenges and strengths in regard to problem-solving. According to the Autism Science Foundation, “The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others need less” (2019).

The most defining characteristics of autism usually appear around the ages of 2-3 years old. According to the NIH, “there is currently no one standard treatment for autism spectrum disorder” (2017). There isn’t even a specific medication that treats autism. The therapies and interventions that are used, are intended to decrease the current symptoms one may be experiencing, and improve their problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills. A few of the therapies that have been successful in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder would include speech therapy, occupational therapy, and verbal behavioral interventions. Research has shown that early detection and diagnosis of autism, like during daycare or preschool age, has a positive influence on their improvement. One therapeutic approach to improve the life of someone with autism spectrum disorder is an autism carebot.

Autism Carebot

An autism carebot is a healthcare robot that was designed to assist children who have been diagnosed with a developmental autism spectrum disorder. According to an article titled Meet the care bots, autism carebots are used to help those “who find it difficult to read emotions and interpret behavior”. Research shows that the carebots are really helpful when they are introduced to the child very early. All of the many capabilities and positive attributes of the autism carebots have improved the clients’ social interaction abilities and problem-solving skills. The carebots can be viewed as a play tool for the child to help develop themselves in a desensitized fashion. The autism carebot would be introduced into a child’s daily routine between the ages of two and three years old. Research has shown this is the average age that autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed.

Even though the autism carebots have proven they have the ability to improve the functional abilities of a child with autism spectrum disorder, there are a lot of people who aren’t quite on board with having robots integrated into healthcare. Or the other issue of not being able to afford the helpful autism carebot. Research has frequently shown that “children from minority families, children of parents with a lower degree of education, and residents of rural areas were less likely to receive such services” (Raicu 2018). Some schools have tried to help with the cost boundaries, but it is still an issue. Students who are able to interact with the robot at school, are still at a disadvantage of the robots’ abilities because they can only use it during school hours. Not schools are even able to afford the opportunity to have the robot at their school just during school hours. The high cost of the robot is a boundary for access to its developmental abilities.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a strategic plan to make the autism carebot more accessible and affordable to more schools and families who are affected by the autism spectrum disorder. More specifically, “build a better, more affordable, more widely accessible autism carebot, aimed at preschool-age children, and intended for use in the children’s homes” (Raicu 2018). All of these aims should be achieved with ethical principles and moral values of society in mind.

Should We Pursue This?

Developing a way to make a robot that has the ability to improve a child’s daily functioning skills and abilities, who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, is definitely a plan worth pursuing. It’s a project that would improve thousands of children who are affected by the developmental disorder. It helps to improve skills such as language abilities, social interactions, and many more. The autism carebot, especially if used when the child is very young and had an early diagnosis, will significantly enhance the user’s quality of life as well. The biggest problem with the autism carebot being accessible to all schools and families, is that it is a very expensive product.

Achieving this goal can be easier said than done. A few ethical concerns that may come up while pursuing this project would be who would pay for the autism carebot? Another ethical concern that may arise while pursuing this project would be how humans would feel about being cared for or interacting with a robot on a close daily basis. Not everyone may be initially comfortable with bonding with a robot and receiving care from it. Dealing with the technological abilities of the robot raises its own ethical concerns such as privacy, misinformation, and many others. These ethical dilemmas can cause a delay or negative reaction toward the carebots in society. It is imperative that all ethical concerns discovered in the process of development, are addressed and taken into consideration.

Who’s Involved?

One thing that’s very important to consider when developing this action plan would be who would be a stakeholder in this development project. A stakeholder is someone who has an interest in something and supports it monetarily. Stakeholders for the development of an improved and more accessible autism carebot can be a number of different groups of people. One group, in particular, can be those who are affected by autism. Whether that is someone who personally has autism spectrum disorder, or is in the family of someone who has autism spectrum disorder.

Other stakeholders could be those who are part of the Autism Society. They have a valuable and emotional connection to autism. Another group of people who could potentially be stakeholders in this project would be the product developers. These people should invest in their design and products. The last group of stakeholders would be the customers. Customers expect good quality services, and that is what’s at stake for them when they purchase or put money towards an autism carebot.

Additional Information

In order to fulfill this project, additional information needs to be collected. One detail that needs to be known is how much is the autism carebot costing people right now. We need to know this detail first, to see can if a reduced price for this product is possible. Next, we need to find out how much is it costing the developers and designers to make. The materials and technology used to develop a great device, such as the autism carebot, can be particularly expensive by itself.

Another important detail needed before the start of this project is if there is a high demand for the carebot. We don’t want to go through the process and the development of a new carebot if no one is interested in the product. The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder is slightly increasing. Our hope is that there are many customers and stockholders out there that are interested in this wonderful life-changing robot. All of these facts and information should be collected and taken into consideration prior to the development of the new and improved autism carebot.

Ethical Issues

Ethics can be defined as a set of standards or principles for behavior. They basically provide guidelines for how we are to act in certain situations and interactions. Ethics can be used to make hard decisions as well as simple decisions. Decisions in which the ethics may be challenged or threatened can be considered a hard decisions. It is important that ethics and any other moral standards, are taken into consideration when making ethical decisions. Ethics can be used throughout various situations and interactions. Ethics can be used in relation to law, religion, job development, research, and so many more. Using ethical standards learned from many different situations will increase the quality of behaviors performed and initiated. When the ethical standards are threatened or have an issue concerning them, they can be defined as ethical concerns. These thoughts about ethics and ethical standards will be implemented during the development of the new autism carebot.

There are a few ethical concerns that arise when going through the process of developing an autism carebot. All of these ethical issues should be addressed and always taken into consideration during the autism carebot development process. One ethical concern when developing a robot is the issue of privacy. According to Noel and Amanda Sharkey, “there are clear overlaps between the concerns raised about privacy in the context of childcare robots” (Sharkey and Sharkey 2017). The two authors continue to explain that “although monitoring may be conducted with the welfare and safety of the individual in mind, this may not be sufficient in all cases to justify the intrusion” (Sharkey and Sharkey 2017). Many individuals are concerned with the robots potentially monitoring them during their interactions with them, thus violating their privacy. This is considered an ethical issue because the concept of privacy is stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It says, “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home, or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation” (Sharkey and Sharkey 2017).

Another ethical concern that should be taken into consideration is that of human contact and socialization. Since the autism carebot will be interacting with children of all ages, the impact of their socialization with them can cause some concerns. According to Sharkey, “It is the natural right of all individuals to have contact with other humans and socialize freely” (Sharkey 2017). This ethical principle can be viewed as being threatened by the concept of having robots with children so frequently. The thought is that if humans get a custom to having robots around all the time, it will lead to the robots potentially taking over and occupying more of humans’ common spaces. Some may believe that having a robot at a young age will have an effect on a person’s socialization skills with humans.

For example, if the child is constantly around a robot, the child may lean more towards the robot for affection and communication, than the parent or stuffed animal. It raises concerns for some people. Research suggests that “perhaps little or no harm would result from a child being left in the care of a robot for very short periods” (Sharkey and Sharkey 2017). Since the aim of this project is to increase the accessibility of these robots for children with autism spectrum disorder, this is a major ethical concern. The autism carebots are developed with many developmental abilities and capacities to enhance the child’s communication skills and social interaction capabilities. According to Starkey, “An important function of a caregiver is to promote a child’s development, for instance, by using progressively more complex utterances in tune with the child’s comprehension” (Sharkey 2017). An autism carebot is definitely capable of fulfilling these functions.

Ethical Frameworks

Making decisions with ethical principles in mind can be a hassle. It is imperative that the decision-makers have a well-developed plan to assess and consider ethical issues. When the ethical decision-making plan is developed and used over and over again over time, the plan becomes so familiar and natural. So natural that you shouldn’t have to think about the steps that are compiled in the decision-making plan. Making ethical judgments won’t be seen as a difficult task or something that no one wants to do.

Even though the ethical decision-making plan may be well-developed, and has been applied to many ethical cases, doesn’t mean it’s well around perfect. Different decision-making plans could be developed to address many different ethical cases and dilemmas. You should pick the best ethical decision-making plan for that specific case or dilemma. Another name for an ethical decision-making plan would be a framework. Before any ethical framework is applied to a specific case or situation, all information that is needed should be collected.

There are many times of ethical frameworks that are developed, that can be used to address the ethical concerns related to the development of the autism carebot. The consequentialist framework can be applied to address the discussed ethical dilemmas. This specific framework is used in situations or cases where the ethical decision, directly or indirectly affects the people involved. When using the consequentialist framework, the goal is to produce the most good for people. According to Bonde & Firenze 2013, the focus of the conceptual framework is to “direct attention to the future effects of an action, for all people who will be directly or indirectly affected by the action” (Bonde & Firenze 2013). The autism carebot will affect the child who actually has autism spectrum disorder directly. The family of the child, plus those who will be around the child often, will be included in the people who will be indirectly affected by the autism carebot.

The downside to just about any ethical framework, consequentialist framework included, is that we’re not always certain about what the outcomes will be. Therefore, “some actions that are expected to produce good consequences might actually end up harming people” (Bonde & Firenze 2013). In the development of the autism carebot, these uncertain outcomes can arise and need to be addressed. There’s the possibility that negative comments and attitudes will be present about the carebot. Consumers, developers, and retailers may not initially agree with the new changes and compromises made for the autism carebot. The hope is that the autism carebot is positively accepted by society.

Ideas

A great approach to this developmental project is testing the product. The goal of this project is to produce a more efficient, accessible, and affordable carebot for children affected by autism spectrum disorder. What better way to test out the quality of the carebot, than to test it with a group of our target audience? For example, a similar autism carebot company was recently planning to test out their product named “Kaspar”. According to the article Titled, Meet the Robots, “Kaspar will enter a two-year clinical trial by the NHS this year, which will involve 40 children and aims to distinguish the difference between those who interact with Kaspar and a therapist, and those who only see a therapist” (2017).

This would be a testing method used to develop my company’s autism carebot. This will allow first-hand feedback from the autism carebot. Customers will be able to interact with the carebot in multiple environments and observe all of its developmental abilities. Information on important details such as the communication enhancement skills, price of the autism carebot, and social interaction skills will be provided to the customers as well as anyone else who may be interested in the product. It is imperative that we show off how beneficial this product will be in each of their lives with purchase. The parents of children with autism will be a big part of this project. With this testing method, we will show everyone, especially the spectators, that the carebot is more than just a piece of technology. According to the article Titled, Meet the Robots, “They look set to play not only a vital role in providing social care but will make a genuine and meaningful impact on people’s lives by giving them a level of independence that may otherwise have been” (2017.

Conclusion

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder is a serious developmental disorder. It affects thousands of people. It is a disorder characterized by a disruption in social interactions, repetitive behaviors, and verbal and nonverbal communication. The characteristics of this disorder normally appear between the ages of two and three years old. It is also this age range when early diagnosis and detection are optimal. Therapies and treatment have the best outcomes when introduced at this time. One of the therapies that have shown a favorable outcome for autism spectrum disorder is an autism carebot.

The autism carebot is a robot therapy for children affected with an autism spectrum disorder. It has been proven to improve a child’s functional abilities by enhancing one’s social interaction abilities, verbal and nonverbal communication, and normalizing behaviors. The problem with getting this product out to more people is the cost of the product. We have developed some ideas to improve the efficiency, accessibility, and cost of the autism carebot. The ethical issues pertaining to this product have been identified. The consequentialist framework, with the goal to produce the best for people, will be used to make decisions regarding ethical issues and concerns. Once the new and improved autism carebot is designed and developed, we will formulate a clinical trial, similar to the one in progress with Kaspar, to test out the quality.

I. Context

A. Start by gaining listeners’ attention.

Sometimes, the ones that we love the most are the ones that we have to watch out for.

B. Show the relevance.

Have you ever gone on family vacations? Maybe a trip to the lake or the beach? Those seem to be the times when you can get the most memories with your family, good or bad.

C. Provide the necessary background.

My family and I, back in 2005, went on a family vacation to Ft. Walton, Florida. It was my parents, my sister, my aunt, my grandparents, and me, a small defenseless 5-year-old.

D. Preview the story.

Not once did I believe that my own mother, my primary role model at my peak age of 5, would turn against her own flesh and blood. But I was wrong…kinda.

II. Spark

It started off as any other normal beach day. The sun was beaming outside and the seagulls were squawking their morning away. I was so ready to get out in the water and have a great day with the sand between my toes and the salty wind in my face. When the time came to go outside I was the first to run out the door.

III. Action

A. first event

When we first got down to the beach I hurriedly ran into the water; my dad used to call me a fish when I was little. (And sometimes he still does but that’s not the point.) As soon as my feet hit the water my mom called me back because I didn’t have any sunscreen on yet. Defeatedly I obeyed and then sunk in disappointment as she told me I had to wait for it to dry before going into the water again so it wouldn’t come off.

But she was quick to distract me with the fact that we had sandcastle buckets with us, so I grabbed the pail and shovel and set to work.

After about ten minutes of me building my magnificent palace which to others may have just seen as a mound of clumpy sand. I became tired of the gruesome labors of building an architectural masterpiece, so I decided it was time for what I had been waiting for. I turned and looked at my mom in hopes that she would understand my question. And she did. With a head nod of approval, I bolted into the water.

B. second event

The time had come, and it was better than any other beach day. I was splashing around and having a blast as the waves crashed against my tiny legs. Soon enough most of my family ended up in the water along by my side. My older sister was boogie-boarding while my dad was trying to teach my sister some better tactics, my mom and my aunt chatting up a storm, and I was just walking around in the shallows having the time of my life.

Soon enough, I needed to talk to my mom about something, it slips my mind today as to what it was, but it must have been super important because I started to swim over to her, away from the super shallow areas.

But obviously, as the ninja-like five-year-old that I was, I didn’t want her to know that I was coming, so I stealthily swam over to her and my aunt. Little did I know, that would be my biggest mistake.

Suddenly my aunt let out a heart-wrenching scream and proceeded to yell “Oh my gosh, there’s a jellyfish!”

IV. Crisis/turning point

My mother looked down in time to see the filmy substance floating near her feet and began to panic. She started to flail her arms and legs in the water, not realizing the fact that her daughter had been almost right behind her at this point. As she freaked out, I didn’t know what to do, but the next thing I know, my mother is tumbling backward toward me.

She fell right on top of me and I was down for the count. I lost all of what little footing I had in the water and was completely submerged. My mom soon realized that she had fallen on top of her five-year-old and tried to get off of me as fast as possible. In pushing herself off of me I was pushed further under the water. When she ended up backing away and I was able to get some footing, my head peaked out from the water for just a second but it didn’t last long until a giant wave came over me and took me back under.

At this moment my mom is freaking out, and so was I. Sand and salt made their way into my eyes and throat as I tumbled closer to shore. Then suddenly sweet relief.

As I tumbled aimlessly through the water, I felt something grab me and I was yanked from what I thought to be my salty demise.

V. Gift/Lesson

My mom held me in the air, rather Simba-like I might add, so that I could regain my composure and my breath. I was saved.

After the events unfolded, my dad was finally able to make his way over to see what had happened. He made his way to the scene of the crime to get a look at the “jellyfish”. He had a look of disappointment and then started to laugh hysterically as he reached down for it. As his hand came out from the water, in his fist, a plastic bag.

Everyone started to laugh, and to this day I find it to be one of my favorite childhood memories with my family. Even though I almost died because of the pollution.

Just some words to live by, things may not always be what they seem, always pick up your trash… and watch out for falling moms.

Archeologists have approximated that the human capacity for cumulative culture emerged somewhere between 500,000 to 170,000 years ago. Culture is a broad word for social behavior, norms, beliefs, arts, laws, and customs, as well as the knowledge and habits of the individuals in these groups all fall under the larger term culture. This is not a process that is done overnight. Forming cultures can take extremely long, sometimes even taking centuries to fully develop. Humans form culture through learning processes and socializing with people within and outside of their communities. Not only is it a process that is learned throughout time, but different climates and the geographic feature can also affect how groups form culture. This is why people and cultures from different regions are so diverse.

The past few weeks I have had the opportunity to interview two of my friends who came to the United States for school and just a change in their everyday lifestyles. The first interviewee was Alex Rodriguez, who is originally from Puerto Rico. He moved here a little over a year ago and enrolled at Michigan State University. Although I have known Alex for a while, one thing I did notice that I originally overlooked when I first met him, is how communication affects him even when it is a simple conversation. He expressed that it was and still is hard for him to keep up in some conversations, often having to talk slowly or stop to think about the right way to express his feelings. That was one of the biggest points he had stressed just because that was the hardest initial barrier he had to face after being tossed into American culture.

I was surprised when he said life in Puerto Rico was not all that different. The United States infrastructure is better than Puerto Rico which I was not shocked by because it matched one of my comparisons from the website, “Puerto Rico uses 55.96% less electricity. The per capita consumption of electricity in The United States is 12,185kWh while in Puerto Rico it is 5,366kWh. This entry consists of total electricity generated annually plus imports and minus exports, expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution” (CIA). The United States is further developed than Puerto Rico, offering more technology and options throughout the country.

Another comparison is the sizes of families and birthrates in Puerto Rico Although he did say that family life is valued more in Puerto Rico than in the United States. More family gatherings and overall more interactions between individuals. This kind of surprised me because their birthrates are lower, “have 18.78% fewer babies. The annual number of births per 1,000 people in Puerto Rico is 10.90 while in The United States, it is 13.42. This entry gives the average annual number of births during a year per 1,000 persons in the population at midyear; also known as the crude birth rate. The birth rate is usually the dominant factor in determining the rate of population growth. It depends on both the level of fertility and the age structure of the population” (CIA). This surprised me because if Puerto Ricans value family more I would expect them to have higher birth rates.

The last comparison I looked into was the average GDP of both countries. GDP is the monetary value of all finished goods and services made within a country during a specific time frame. This comparison follows along with electricity and infrastructure in the sense that the United States is further developed, “Make 69.13% less money. This GDP per capita in Puerto Rico is $16,300 while in The United States, it is $52,800. This entry shows GDP on a purchasing power parity basis divided by population as of 1 July for the same year. A nation’s GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates is the sum value of all goods and services produced in the country valued at prices prevailing in the United States. This is the measure most economists prefer when looking at per-capita welfare and when comparing living conditions or the use of resources across countries. The measure is difficult to compute, as a US dollar value has to be assigned to all goods and services in the country regardless of whether these goods and services have a direct equivalent in the United States (for example, the value of an ox-cart or non-US military equipment); as a result, PPP estimates for some countries are based on a small and sometimes different set of goods and services. In addition, many countries do not formally participate in the World Bank’s PPP project that calculates these measures, so the resulting GDP estimates for these countries may lack precision. For many developing countries, PPP-based GDP measures are multiples of the official exchange rate (OER) measure. The differences between the OER- and PPP-denominated GDP values for most of the wealthy industrialized countries are generally much smaller” (CIA). This difference in GDP shows you that the United States values money and overall country progress more than family. This interaction did change the way I look at other cultures as well as my own when it comes to family and social life.

The second interview was also very interesting because it was such a dramatic change in geography and infrastructure compared to the United States. The second interviewee is from South Korea, his name is David Youm and this is the third year that he has lived in The United States. He came to the States searching for a better education, but that search ended when he got accepted into Michigan State University. I thought it was interesting how he thinks the biggest difference between both countries is the connectivity between individuals. As Alex said earlier, The United States’ social aspect is less inviting than other countries. People here worry more about themselves and their immediate peer group than random people surrounding them.

One of the comparisons I obtained from the website was that the average unemployment rate for South Korea is higher than the average in The United States, “South Korea has an unemployment rate of 3.50% while The United States has 6.20%” (CIA). This did not surprise me too much because The United States GDP is one of the largest in the world. I think this shows the citizens of the U.S. care more about productivity and money than maybe some other values of South Korea or Puerto Rico. Another comparison is the difference in the amount of electricity being used. Like Puerto Rico the United States consumes more electricity than South Korea, “The per capita consumption of electricity in The United States is 12,185kWh while in South Korea it is 9,165kWh. This entry consists of total electricity generated annually plus imports and minus exports, expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution” (CIA). The last thing I am going to compare to the U.S. is the annual birth rate of both countries. Just like Puerto Rico, South Korea has a lower birth rate than the U.S., “The annual Number of births per 1,000 people in South Korea is 8.26 while in The United States, it is 13.42” (CIA). Those are just a few of the cultural differences between South Korea and Puerto Rico.

Even though both interviewees said the U.S. is not very far off from their home countries. They still stated there is a significant difference in the type of music, food, arts, and how families interact for their homes and surrounding country’s cultures. Their impressions of the U.S. changed once they lived in the U.S. They both expected way more people to be living in homes and have a way more family-orientated life. Although, there is an insane amount of individual homes they were surprised by the number of people who live in apartments. I was shocked by the number of cultural overlaps they mentioned. They talked about how the music and movie industry helped make that happen. Offering people from other countries to see what life is like in the United States. That is also their reasoning for why they think their home countries are not too far off from ours. I learned that the U.S. is a very capitalistic society compared to other areas of the world. I would definitely say that this assignment has helped me to view other cultures differently, helping me to keep an open mind.

A single memorable day in my life… I don’t think I could come up with a single one that isn’t also connected to a sad memory. First of all, I’m going to open up by saying that in my life everything comes with strings attached. Besides, I wasn’t asked to only write about the good, like some awesome day at Universal Studios or my 13th birthday when I finally became a teenager, just a memory that stands out in my mind. One great memory of my eighth-grade graduation comes with several tiny tangled strings that seem to choke me when I’m minding my business. Of course, just because a memory is horrible, doesn’t mean it isn’t an interesting story to share. So without further ado, my eighth-grade graduation and how it ended up a literal wreck.

I woke up on graduation day and the world seemed colorful. There were the exciting colors, the colors that were calming, and of course some gray because at the time I was struggling with severe depression. I wasn’t going to let my depression get in the way of my big day, though. The agenda was simple and would lead up to me getting dressed for graduation and sitting down for dinner with my family at Chilies. The dinner was a huge deal because I was going to sit down and dine with my mother after we had been separate for two years. This was because we both agreed that we were better off apart from each other for a while due to our constant fighting.

Needless to say, I was terrified and my anxiety was justified because it ended up going just as planned. We sat at the table while my mom made rude and uncalled-for remarks until I left for the bathroom in a full-blown panic attack where it took several minutes for my Abuela to calm me down. I got my things together and sat back down at that table with my head up high because I would soon graduate and spend the rest of the night with my two best friends, Kari and Keegs.

Finally, we get to graduation! I was in the worst mood ever, my mom had indulged in quite a few glasses of wine, my best friends both looked better than me, and I was the only one wearing heels while everyone else was wearing cowboy boots. It was horrible being the odd one out so when the time to walk the stage, I rushed, grabbed my diploma, looked around, and avoided all eye contact with my family. In a way, it was fantastic, really, because this was the last time I would ever step foot in that hellhole of a middle school building cafeteria. I was a high schooler now and the next time I would graduate, I would be quietly alone in my bedroom at the age of seventeen! Who would have thought that the next three years of my life would leave me a social outcast?

All jokes aside, it was time to get crazy! My best friends met me outside and I changed from my heels to my Converse and we ran all the way to Kari’s house. Karis Abuela had a house and danced in the front yard all night while the barbecue continued until Me, Kari, Keegs, and about 2 other of our friends who lived on the same street decided to go for a drive. The other two friends went to go find a car while my girls and I got in Kari’s Jeep. Keegs drove, and we blasted Pierce The Veil all around the desert lands (I’m not being dramatic. We were literally driving around a desert wasteland). All was well until we saw headlights come from behind us and a boy pulled up beside us and ran the Jeep off the road. You thought I was gonna say a cop but no, It was a teenage boy in a minivan full of sixth-grade girls. Keegs swerved off the road, hit a rock, and a sign, and then we finally crashed into a giant cactus. I won’t get into the details too much, but the next thirty minutes consisted of panicking girls walking in circles everywhere you looked, teenage boys offering to keep the man, whose yard we had just crashed into, quiet by cleaning the entire yard and road up, and then be followed up by a silent car ride home.

So, here I am today, breaking the promise we three girls had about never speaking of this and I’m writing a paper on it. Can you believe it? We three parted ways after this. No one ever found out about the accident, not even Kari’s parents. Years later, quite recently actually, Kari and I set up a Skype call and spoke to each other from across the country, and when the topic was brought up we just laughed and said how over-dramatized the story sounds compared to how it really was. Maybe that’s why I never told anyone. I don’t even think I’ve told my mom, who I’ve grown extremely close to and never keep any secrets from. That’s how unique of a story this was; the day I graduated eighth grade. Take that for a memorable day!

Conflict Resolution

Everyone has that one close person who he shares all his life experiences. In my case, this has been my elder brother. He has been so dear to me ever since we were a small kid. I remember when we were studying in the lower high school, my elder brother could constantly come to check on me during class breaks just to make sure that I was fine. We so much resembled each other near to being mistaken to be twins. Being two grades before me, I hardly struggled to carry out home or school assignments as he always offered a helping hand. My brother was very exceptional in the way he presented himself at home and school. He strived to overcome the challenges and tasks before him by figuring out strategies to effectively address them.

We collaborated on many things to create time to play soccer which was our favorite game. We were often selected in one team, playing close to each other, as our combination of moves was unmatched by any other combination of our age. Often it was my brother who would train me the game skills before our parents realized our passion for the game and hired us a competent couch. Throughout our junior grades, we won many grades in different tournaments together. My brother happened to be the school team captain, without a doubt, he was overly adorable. The young man was well-equipped with good communication skills that enabled him to keep the team united by resolving differences whenever they arose. My brother was well articulated with everyone in the team and being an ENFJ personality type, he kept the team focused.

We had a plan that we would create an active team after graduation from senior high school. Through the help of our parents and support from other interested neighbors, we raised funds enough to establish the team and obtain membership from our previous team players. The team grew so strong and supported both locally and in interstate games. The goal we had in the formulation of the team objective was to nurture soccer talents. From the football academy, various team members could be signed by various national clubs and international teams. He was to be the chief consultant of the team while I served as the secretary.

Though we had a lot of differences as the group grew in size as others were adopted by other teams a major conflict aroused when he was to join a college team in which he had joined for undergraduate education. This was the distance from the home town and he rarely made a physical appearance in our usual meetings. As a team consultant, he was playing a significant role in the academy which he either needed to hand over or be actively engaged in the club affairs. Over a short period, the team activities deteriorated and I had to call upon my brother to take up his responsibilities in the team or to hand over the duties. According to him, the objectives of the academy had been met and the team was meant to be dissolved. I insisted that the team activities were necessary as we were in a position to recruit more members and as others got adopted into other teams. I persuaded him to hand over his responsibilities to allow the team to proceed much more smoothly which he became hesitant about. From his perspective, the team would not run without him being in charge and it was better for the team to be dissolved other than to hand over a claim I highly objected to. I decided to convey a group meeting to persuade him to hand over and become an ex-official member of the organizing board. He agreed to hand over his prominent position as the chief consultant officer of the team the position I was assigned and we accommodated him as an ex-official member.

The reactivity was intense in handling this issue. At first, the discussion was characterized by massive escalation and emotional intensity. There was aggressive verbal communication when the team activities were slowing down with my brother taking little concern about the issue (McCornack 185). The reactivity was characterized by accusations of mistrust between us. I considered my brother’s suggestion as self-centered and having no direction for the team. I considered him to have lost the focus and commitment of the group by proposing a shutdown. My response to his view caused us to feel betrayed by the other party as the team members and other stakeholders looked upon us for clear directions on the approach the team should take. I felt on my part that we were being unfair to other stakeholders by being indecisive. Due to this, we had two weeks in which we didn’t have verbal communication until my brother returned home and we agreed on holding an urgent meeting.

In this case, I went for a collaborative approach to conflict resolution (McCornack 213). I went for this approach because it is usually constructive in managing conflicts. From the relationship that I have enjoyed with my brother since childhood, this was by no means to break it up. I also felt that he had a significant role to play in the team other than just dismissing him for lack of full support. Since my brother is not very stubborn, he readily welcomed the idea though it cost him some compromise. Being my elder, I assured him that I would certainly play the roles he was doing as the chief consultant officer with competence. The collaboration approach was informed by the trust that we have developed over time and the commitment that we had since childhood. Following the suggestions developed by Wilmort and Hocker (2010), we began the collaboration approach by stating the actual problem and separating it from my brother’s perspective (Wilmort & Hocker 203). This was an important aspect as it enabled us to lay down our perspectives and analyze the issues at hand. It also enabled us to prevent personal attacks and to actively engage in obtaining a solution. We were able to address the issues raised without anger and in collaboration with all the team members.

As a team, we also focused on the interests of the team in general and the long-term objectives that we had formed. We reflected on the initial objectives that we had in developing this idea and the milestones we had attained in the journey. We expressed our desires regarding the prospects of the team based on the objectives and the attained milestones of the team activities. In this case, the language adopted was in the defense of the team’s future rather than the individual objectives. We together explored the alternatives that would best address the situation that the team was facing in light of the sustainability of the team objectives (Bercovitch 102). We reviewed the alternatives and selected those that most appealed to team objectives which were having my brother as an ex-official member of the team and me taking over his position as the chief consultant officer. We also selected a new secretary to take over my position.

Everybody was contented with the decisions that we arrived at on that day. My brother responded positively towards the conclusion that he would hand over to me and attain an ex-official member who we can constantly approach and consult whenever anything arises. He handed over the leadership position to me and since then he has remained very instrumental in the team’s progress. I was also happy with the decision as it provided me with an elaborate position of leadership and more interpersonal relationships. The team members and stakeholders were also glad for the resumption of the team activities. We all looked forward to the progress of the team.

Work Cited

1. McCornack, Steven. Interpersonal Communication and You. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2015.
2. Paperback. Wilmot, W. W., & Hocker, J. L. (2010). Interpersonal conflict (8th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Introduction

In the thought-provoking essay “Bombs Bursting in Air,” author Beth Johnson delves into the multifaceted concept of patriotism. She challenges conventional notions of patriotism by exploring its complexities and raising important questions about its relationship with violence and nationalism. This critical essay will delve into the key arguments and perspectives presented by Johnson in her work, highlighting the thought-provoking nature of her exploration.

Exploring the Paradox of Patriotism

Johnson begins by acknowledging the power of patriotic symbols and rituals in creating a sense of unity and belonging among citizens. She highlights the emotional impact of events such as Independence Day celebrations and the singing of the national anthem. However, she swiftly moves beyond the surface-level expressions of patriotism to interrogate its darker side.

One of Johnson’s key arguments is that patriotism can be exploited by those in power to manipulate public opinion and justify violence. She questions the glorification of war and the way in which patriotism can be used to suppress dissent and stifle critical thinking. Johnson prompts readers to reflect on the blurred line between patriotism and nationalism, cautioning against blind allegiance to the state.

Unpacking the Role of Violence

Another central theme in Johnson’s essay is the relationship between patriotism and violence. She highlights the paradoxical nature of celebrating the freedom and ideals of a nation while simultaneously engaging in violent acts. Johnson challenges readers to consider whether violence is an inherent part of patriotism or a distortion of its true essence.

Johnson presents the contrasting perspectives of different individuals and groups, including veterans who question the necessity and consequences of war. She challenges the assumption that military service automatically equates to patriotism, emphasizing the importance of critical reflection and empathy in understanding the complex realities of war.

Questioning the Status Quo

Throughout her essay, Johnson encourages readers to question the prevailing narratives and assumptions surrounding patriotism. She emphasizes the importance of engaging in critical thinking and seeking a deeper understanding of the historical, social, and political context in which patriotism operates.

By inviting readers to think beyond the traditional symbols and rituals associated with patriotism, Johnson challenges us to redefine our understanding of loyalty to our country. She urges individuals to examine the underlying values and principles that drive their actions and to consider how patriotism can be expressed in ways that promote justice, equality, and peace.

Conclusion

In “Bombs Bursting in Air,” Beth Johnson presents a critical exploration of patriotism, challenging readers to consider its complexities and potential pitfalls. Through her thought-provoking analysis, Johnson raises important questions about the relationship between patriotism, violence, and nationalism. She prompts readers to engage in critical reflection and to challenge the status quo, encouraging a more nuanced understanding of patriotism that aligns with principles of justice and empathy.

Johnson’s essay serves as a reminder that patriotism is not a static concept but one that evolves and requires ongoing examination. By questioning the prevailing narratives and assumptions surrounding patriotism, readers are encouraged to develop a more nuanced and thoughtful understanding of their relationship with their country. “Bombs Bursting in Air” invites us to engage in critical conversations about patriotism and to consider how it can be expressed in ways that contribute to a more just and inclusive society.

In her essay “Bombs Bursting in Air,” Beth Johnson explores the complexities of patriotism, challenging conventional notions and prompting readers to critically examine the relationship between patriotism, violence, and nationalism. Johnson acknowledges the power of patriotic symbols and rituals in creating a sense of unity and belonging among citizens. However, she also raises important questions about the darker side of patriotism, its potential to be exploited by those in power, and its connection to violence.

Johnson questions the glorification of war and the way in which patriotism can be used to suppress dissent and stifle critical thinking. She invites readers to consider whether violence is an inherent part of patriotism or a distortion of its true essence. By presenting the perspectives of veterans who question the necessity and consequences of war, Johnson challenges the assumption that military service automatically equates to patriotism.

Throughout her essay, Johnson encourages readers to think beyond the traditional symbols and rituals associated with patriotism. She urges individuals to engage in critical thinking, to seek a deeper understanding of the historical, social, and political context in which patriotism operates, and to question the prevailing narratives and assumptions surrounding patriotism. Johnson emphasizes the importance of examining the underlying values and principles that drive actions and suggests that patriotism can be expressed in ways that promote justice, equality, and peace.

Overall, Johnson’s essay serves as a thought-provoking exploration of patriotism, urging readers to engage in critical reflection and to challenge the status quo. She prompts us to develop a more nuanced understanding of patriotism that aligns with principles of justice and empathy. By questioning the relationship between patriotism, violence, and nationalism, Johnson encourages readers to redefine their understanding of loyalty to their country and to consider how patriotism can be expressed in ways that contribute to a more just and inclusive society.

“Bombs Bursting in Air” invites us to examine our own beliefs and assumptions about patriotism, encouraging us to think beyond the surface-level expressions of allegiance to our country. Through her insightful analysis and thought-provoking questions, Johnson sparks a broader conversation about the complexities of patriotism and its implications for society. The essay serves as a reminder that patriotism is not a static concept, but one that requires ongoing examination and critical reflection.

In conclusion, “Bombs Bursting in Air” by Beth Johnson challenges readers to critically examine the complexities of patriotism. Johnson prompts us to question the relationship between patriotism, violence, and nationalism and encourages us to develop a more nuanced understanding of loyalty to our country. By engaging in critical thinking and reflecting on the underlying values and principles that drive our actions, we can contribute to a more just and inclusive society that aligns with the true essence of patriotism.

According to Howbawm, a crucial event is a significant moment in time that had a lasting impact on society, moreover, these defining moments affect the way people interpret the world around them. For example, in retrospect, the diverse individuals Hobsbawm uses in his introduction speak about the 20th century in terms of crucial events; Holocaust concentration camps, women’s rights movements, world wars, technological improvements, etc. Although these crucial events have the power to affect some directly and others indirectly, the common theme is that they are essential in explaining why certain policies exist and how our biases are molded. Since Hobsbawm argues that these crucial events are a “part of us,” not only can they help us examine what our times are like but also, through the consequences of these events and our reaction to them, allows future students of our history insight on the environment we grew up in and how we tried to make sense of it. Hobsbawm claims that crucial events impress themselves upon everybody’s lives and that they “have marked us all, to some extent in the same ways.” However, I have to disagree with Hosbawm, these crucial events touch us all in distinct ways, for some it reinforces their biases, and for others, it challenges previous beliefs.

In thinking about what the crucial public event of my lifetime is, I had a difficult time. This is because it seems as though the news we wake up to every morning is full of “crucial events” from natural disasters to political strife. It was seemingly impossible for me to choose one crucial event when in our world of social media, Facebook shares, and hashtags, there are so many events that have construed my/our world today. I tried not to be cynical, I wanted to choose a positive crucial event and tie it together with some positive aspect of the world we live in. However, after I talked to my dad recently about the ICE raids this past summer and the “know your rights” posts for immigrants circulating Twitter and Instagram, his reaction to people being deported, children left parentless, and the rhetoric surrounding immigrants saddened me. He said “acababa de comenzar a cosecher los frutos de mi trabajo,” which translates to “I had just begun to reap the fruits of my labor.” I come from a family of immigrants, my parents migrated to the United States, established a life here, and invested their everything in me. Immigration, in general, has been the ongoing crucial public event of my lifetime, and more specifically the ICE raids targeting undocumented immigrants this past summer. When I was reading a news article about an ICE raid in Mississippi, I was surprised when I read what Mike Hurst, a US Attorney in Mississippi said, “Today through the hard work of these men and women, we are once again becoming a nation of laws.”

The anti-immigrant sentiment is relevant and apparent not only in the United States but in other countries as well. For example, in my Global Studies 10A class last semester we learned about Australia’s “No Way You Will Not Make Australia Home” posters and protests against refugee settlement in Europe. The crucial ongoing event of immigration and the ICE raids has instilled in me and others a sense of fear. I resonate with children of undocumented immigrants who are confused, angered, and disgusted with the negative discourse surrounding immigrants. Those who speak down upon our family, belittle their hard work and perseverance, and make us feel helpless, on edge, and afraid. I feel that these deportations are a divisive issue, and certainly, as of now, it feels as though the nationalist treatment countries show immigrants could be a defining moment of this decade. The ICE raids specifically, but immigration in general, have shaped the way I view the world as “them” and “us.” I try to understand those who shamelessly regurgitate hateful slogans like “Build the Wall,” but there seems to be a lack of empathy in their opinion that I can’t wrap my head around. Therefore, my pro-immigration inclination/bias has shaped the way I view the world’s conflicts, some would say in a rather naive way, but certain topics seem to me like there shouldn’t be an argument. It is obvious that not all immigrants are criminals, that they help economies flourish, and that we must help asylum seekers and refugees.

I’ve had many challenges and experiences that I’ve learned from. This is one that I continue to learn from every single day of my life because it affects me every single day of my life. Yet this is one that I’m most hesitant to share. It’s just that everyone has a sob story, and I refuse to let this be one. So, this is me cutting myself open, while another me uses a stick to point at different parts of me as if I’m an anatomical diagram. (Pointing with a stick) “This is my crippling anxiety. This is my ‘using humor’ as a coping mechanism instead of handling or confronting my problems. This is my immobilizing depression, which is right next to my love for animals. It gets weird.” When I was younger it felt as if the only emotion, I could have was happiness. I don’t mean that, I must keep smiling for my family way. But in me being anything else but happy was unacceptable or psychologically punishable in a way. When I was little, I could pull my mother to the side and tell her how and what makes me uncomfortable and she would listen. But as I got older it became, “What could you know about these things or actions that make you uncomfortable.” or “How dare you be unhappy in this household despite all the things I do for you!” I live with my mother and my grandma.

My grandma moved from Ghana when I was born to come help raise me because my father wasn’t around. He wasn’t completely out of my life just highly inconsistent. He’ll promise to come one day and then come five months to a year later. My dad would promise my mother something, something simple. Cleaning her car for example. Then some slight inconvenience would happen, and instead of telling her he’s got to reschedule or can’t make it. He would duck her calls for a few days or a week then say “Sorry I couldn’t make it I’m in Mexico.” And he would actually be in Mexico, or someplace crazy and out of the country such as London or China. My dad used to DJ a lot when I was younger so people would pay for him to go wherever they needed him to be and he would just hightail it and go without telling anyone. Especially when he couldn’t keep his simple promises. Do you know how long it takes/how fast you must be to get from Maryland to Mexico in two days? My dad couldn’t stay in one place when you needed him. We really should have built a wall around him.

My mom had two kids at the time. Me and my little brother Ebenezer, we call him PaaKow cause we’re Ghanaian, would later go on to have my baby brother Jayden with my dad when I was ten. She had the two of us and my grandma helping, so we were managing completely fine without him. To the point where I thought him not being in my life was normal and I didn’t really care because that’s what I was used to. He didn’t affect me negatively, he just does his thing and I do mine. But the mental toll it must have taken on my mother did affect me because it was directed at me. My mom is the definition of a strong independent woman that doesn’t need a man. She personally doesn’t need my father, but she felt as if we did, “when in reality we couldn’t care less.” It pained her that he wasn’t trying to be more active in our lives and his constant lies. But if something happened to me and my mother thought I was lying even, when I was telling the truth, she would get in my face and yell at me and tell me I was a “liar just like my father.” She wouldn’t believe me despite all I said. Between the ages of 4-6, I was labeled a “liar just like my father” despite telling the truth. So, I eventually became a liar because it was easier to tell her what she wanted to hear instead of what happened. I couldn’t tell the truth about my feelings because they weren’t that serious, and I couldn’t tell the truth in general because she wouldn’t believe me. My mom stopped telling me those things when I was six but still hearing that at the age of four isn’t the best for your newly developing mental state. It’s as if you’re buying a new car and putting the brakes where the engine should be and vice versa.

In other words, things aren’t going to look good down the road. When I was 8 is when my depression officially kicked in. I was sad and I didn’t know why. I couldn’t turn to my mother for help because she didn’t understand, and she would make me feel worse for the feelings I already harbored. Because of this I eventually became numb to certain and many emotions except anger. I felt anger because I couldn’t properly express what I was going through at home. I put on a happy façade because it felt as if that was all I was allowed to show. So, for a long time, most of my moments of happiness didn’t feel genuine. I recognized it in my head, but I didn’t feel it in my heart. It was hard because my mother never took my feelings seriously. There were times when I would tell her and she would seem to understand, then the next day she would tell me I was too dramatic or she didn’t care or would belittle or downplay my feelings. There was a time when I struggled with self-harm, I burned myself and my mother found out. Her reaction was to take a lighter, set it in my face, and tell me that she wanted to see me burn myself. She wouldn’t let me leave until I did, and when I refused, she told me she knew it. I wasn’t about “that life” and went on a tangent on how she’s seen depression and how I’m overly sensitive, not depressed. To my mother, depression has a certain characteristic or lifestyle and since I didn’t fit that to the T, I wasn’t depressed. Every time I sought out help or tried to tell others about how I felt my mother would somehow, no matter what, always find out. It was terrifying, no matter how careful I was, my mom would always find out about me telling people sad.

My mom would always be offended by this. She saw it as, how dare you go to others to speak about how you feel when you have me. Yet when I went to her, I wasn’t taken seriously. There was a time when my mom went to Best Buy so she can control my baby brother’s screen time on his device through her phone. Somehow all my messages and past messages ended up on her phone instead, and she sat and read everything so all my feelings, all my secrets, everything I had to change or hide to keep my mom happy, was out in the open. My mother confronted me about it and told me I was a liar and was doing this for attention. I was back to square one, a liar. She didn’t add the “like your father” part, but I could feel it in my heart. Ever since then, sharing my feelings has been terrifying. Sharing your feelings is like trying to tell someone they have an ugly baby. Do you know how hard it is to tell someone they have an ugly baby? They’ll ask, “Isn’t he the cutest?” And you’ll say “Yeah…” when in reality you’re praying they never feed that thing after midnight. Don’t ask me about my feelings after midnight because the conversation can go from “My favorite color is blue” to “She lost both of her legs” real quick. My relationship with my mother has always been strange. The only way I can explain it is as having a ride or die who is also a bomb. My mother, in some areas, is my safe place. When all else fails I know I can go to her and feel safe.

My mother cares for me on levels she doesn’t even have to and expresses it every day. When I’m bored, I can sit on her lap while she keeps me company. If I’m in trouble the, second there’s a hint of something wrong she’s there to defend my honor. She spoils me, she loves me and never lets me forget it. My mom is a warrior who fights to defend her people and anyone who dares to disrespect it. She is the hand that guides me, the umbrella protecting me from the rain, and my biggest supporter. Yet depending on the subject, which is usually my mental health, that same sword that was shielding me from the harsh and cruel light has now just cut me down once again. There was an incident, by incident I mean during sophomore year one of my suicide attempts ended with the police coming to my house and CPS eventually showing up. To sum this up, my mother lied to the lady about my depression and self-harm despite all the outbursts and basic cries for help I’ve been having all my life. She got her to laugh in my face and write me off on her clipboard as “an over-dramatic teen looking for attention.” And to add insult to injury, the CPS lady found out I was bisexual through my guidance counselor and as she was out the door to leave, she outed me to my mother. So here I was, a problem teen, with terrible grades from middle school, depressed with nothing to be depressed about, and I liked girls and guys. So now I’m problematic and greedy. The way I feel about CPS is the same way Ice Cube feels about the police in Straight Out of Compton, and we all know his most iconic and overused line. “F*** CPS coming straight from a Middle school…” Speaking of middle school, I was a mess, I mean a mess. Feelings about myself were everywhere, anxiety was at its highest, and girls are looking better than usual. In high school, I’m a functioning mess but I make it look sexy. During my first year of high school, I immediately got into Drama. It was always something I wanted to try. So, in eighth grade, I signed up to take Drama 1 in 9th and I absolutely fell in love and started doing plays two weeks later. Ever since I’ve performed three plays, practiced five, and done one musical. With acting I could feel emotions I wasn’t allowed to feel. I could go on stage and feel these things that I couldn’t show under the guise of these characters. I could finally take off my mask of comedy and throw away that God-forsaken smile. I rehearsed a play that we, unfortunately, didn’t get to preformed called “It’s a Wonderful Life” I ended up with the role of the Angel Joe. Watching George Bailey go through the struggles that he faced and persevere in the end, even when it wasn’t always ideal, the fact that he made it work and still managed to find happiness in settling made me realize it’s okay to be okay where I am right now. It might not be 100% what I want but I was good, and I was safe. I then went on to play a little girl named Belen in the play “Anonymous”. She was a girl being led to a safe place by the ghost of her father.

Both her parent’s dead, far away from home in an unknown land, scared. Belen taught me to keep moving forward even in times of desperation and fear. Despite my love for theatre, there were times when things could get frustrating or repetitive. For example, the time I got typecast as a mom. I did a scene where I played a mom a little too well and the next thing you know, that’s all anyone ever wanted me for. It was as if everyone else was Erykah Badu and all she ever called was Tyrone, but I wasn’t Tyrone, I was his mother. It was so frustrating, I wanted to be Tyrone. I could be a good Tyrone, well if Tyrone had braided pigtails and lip gloss glossier shinier than a brand-new microwave. I couldn’t even be the aunt, I couldn’t be Tyrone, I had to be the mom. I would have even been the dog if they let me. I’d make a good dog too, all you got to do is put on your deep voice, and I’m talking Ying Yang Twins deep. Not let me whisper in your ear deep, but deep. They could ask me questions and I’ll I have to do is say the word woof. “What is it, girl?” “Woof.” “Sally’s trapped in the well!” “No, the house is on fire woof! It’s too late for Sally, she’s been down that thing since last week, Woof.” “You want the ball girl?” “Woof.” Do you want it? You want the ball girl, go fetch! Haha just kidding the balls right here.” “I pity the fool who would do that again. Woof.” Someone’s going to proofread this essay for me and try to ask me if I’m okay, and one of two things will happen. I will either look them in the eyes as a spotlight shines down on us and say “Eu tu” as I watch them stab me twenty-three times like Caesar. Or I will cry. I will lay down face first on the ground and ugly sob. Absorbing the tears back in and releasing them out, like SpongeBob. Even though acting gave me a better chance to handle my feelings, the real question is. Have I overcome my depression? Excuse me while I press play on my loud and highly ironic laugh track. I haven’t overcome my depression, but I’ve overcome my toxic mindset. With the mindset that you’ll never amount to anything it’s hard to strive for anything. Acting hasn’t cured my depression, but it let out some of the internal pain. Every day I’m slowly overcoming something, some days I’m back to where I started but I get back up again. Every day I overcome the challenges I’ve set for myself because, at the end of the day, I am my biggest oppressor and the only one stopping me from greatness is me.

The media portrays family life in different ways while sometimes showing what ideal families should look like, how parents should treat and relate with their children, and the behavior between spouses. Research is being widely carried out to capture the most detailed description of family life, family structure, and the diversity in which the media is portraying what a family is. The way in which media portrays family life and interactions depends on the way it is programmed. Most Tv series, comedies, movies, novels, and dramas try to feature family life in their plots and are the reason why studies are being undertaken to determine how they portray it. Currently, divorce rates are quite high, leaving children under the care and interaction of one of the parents. This paper focuses on the Tv series show called ‘The Castle which was cast between 2009 to 2016. The main character, Richard Rick Castle, tries to balance family life and work. The most significant family for him in the series is his daughter Alexis and his mother, Martha Rodgers, who live with him. Castle is a divorced man whose first wife is Alexis’ mother by the name Meredith. Alexi’s mother features as a free-spirited actress who leaves the daughter in the sole custody of his father, Richard Castle. The three, i.e., Richard Castle, his daughter, and his mother, present a very unrealistic family situation as discussed in this paper.

Cases of unrealistic family and family relation portrayals in the series are very evident. First, Alexis is under the sole custody of his father since he divorced her mother, who happens to be his first wife. Her mother rarely visits her, nor is she concerned with her as their interaction is very minimal in the plot. Studies have shown a strong bond between mothers and their children, and how typically they spent more time together. As much as Castle’s life balances between his career and fatherhood, Alexis’ mother is shown to prefer her career more than parenting her child. The series creates an unrealistic character for Alexis’ mother to build on the storyline of the series while denying the real-life situation. According to Cooper and Burke (2015), most parents are found to live happily by balancing career life and parenthood. Hardly mothers show less concern for their children, especially their daughters, leaving them in the sole custody of their fathers.

The Castle series sometimes presents Alexis as more responsible and mature than his father. In portraying her maturity in various instances, Alexis unveils Castle’s immaturity. In some scenes, Alexis appears shouting at her father and exercising a lot of control over him. Gulli (2016) explains such occurrences as ‘The Collapse of Parenting’ and says that treating children as grownups hurts them. However, in the series, Alexis is shown to enjoy the maturity she is portraying before her father and continually does actions that force her father to search for her and seek an apology for issuing a corrective measure. Leeper (2011), mentions that children deserve punishments for their unruly behavior and not an apology as it happens in the series. Children rarely exercise command and power over their fathers, as the environment between them is strict and respectful (Maccoby, 2013). Also, Castle fails to shape his daughter’s sexual relationship, and she is portrayed to dispose of her father’s warnings about her relationships with her male friends. Maccoby (2013) also discusses how fathers ideally monitor and by all means, cut off bad companies of their children as they strive to let them focus on their career and intellectual aspects of their lives. Therefore, the way media enables children to exercise a lot of control and maturity over their fathers, and generally, parents are unrealistic as the media does through The Castle.

Another notable family relation in the series is that between Richard Castle and his mother, Martha. The mother-son relationship between the two is fragile. In many instances, Castle also controls, acts more mature than his mother, and helps her make sexual life decisions. In one particular scene, Castle finds his mother trying to weigh about accepting a date or not with her childhood friend she meets again on social media. Without consulting his mother, Castle licks the ‘accept’ and goes on to convince her to go on the date which she does. Wilson and Koo (2010) reveal that there is less sexual communication between sons and their mothers. Moreover, Castle’s mother barely lets Castle raise his daughter in his way, as most of the time, sides with her unhealthy behaviors in socializing. The kind of relationship shown in the series is therefore distorted, and studies have shown it as harmful.

The father figure in The Castle is portrayed as a man who does activities together with her daughter, including physical activities, fencing, gaming, and research projects. In most of the episodes, Alexis is featured playing a game with his father, like two age mates. Also, Richard is engaged in cooking for his mother and teenage daughter in many scenes. In reality, fathers hardly get involved in physical activities with their adolescent daughters. Instead, they spend much of their time pursuing academic and intellectual knowledge. Leeper (2011) explains this to be contributed to the need for fathers to prepare their children to meet life challenges. The games that Castle plays with her daughter make her see his father’s immaturity and also lead to the use of ‘unideal language’ for their relationship setting. The Tv show exaggerates the role of parenting in the name of building the characters.

The father-daughter life in the series is, however, realistic in a variety of ways. First, Alexis portrays high positive self-esteem and self-image. Alexis is academically motivated, and intelligent, and has excellent social and interpersonal skills. She interacts well with Detective Beckett, who works with her father in the investigation of murder cases. Her intelligence is shown in the way she shares ideas concerning actions committed by the murderers they hunt. According to Zia, Malik, and Mansoon (2015), fathers who spent time with their daughters in their early and adolescence life tend to shape their confidence, self-image, and self-esteem toward achieving their goals. Self-esteem is built as fathers show become alert and sensitive toward the feelings of their daughters, listen to and show interest in their concerns as well as praise and approve of them. The castle is seen to take care of Alexis both psychological and physical needs. He supports her and spends time with her regardless of the dual role of a novel writer and assistance in solving murder cases. Nielsen (2010) discusses how well-fathered daughters show more life directiveness, self-reliance, and the development of a self-loving personality. Alexis’ relationship and life with his father portray Nielse’s (2010) findings. The father and daughter relationship in building her self-esteem through more interaction and support is realistic, as shown in the studies, as discussed by Nielson (2010). In real cases, reputable fathers shape distinctive personalities in their children.

Conclusion

In summary, the media portrays family life in both realistic and unrealistic cases, as discussed above. The role of single parenthood is exaggerated and takes on an unexpected direction. It is very impractical for sons to give opinions and control their mother’s sexual life. Parents act as role models to their children and rarely reveal their immaturity before them, nor do children exercise maturity before their children. Also, parents always find ways of controlling their children’s behavior, and vice versa is an unrealistic case that is mostly portrayed by the media. The Castle is an excellent example of the ways in which media provides unrealistic situations to build on the storyline. l